I have been thinking a lot lately about a gentle and quiet spirit and realizing the lack in my life. Even for those of us that try to take care of ourselves by eating healthy, Zumba, and dressing cute, our physical beauty is going to fade. It's inevitable. But inner beauty is eternal, imperishable.
"Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."
~I Peter 3:3-4
This verse tells us that a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God. This is an attractive concept. It fills my mind with thoughts of an otherworldly, inner beauty that is spiritual in quality.
The above picture reminds me of a gentle and quiet spirit. The delicate flower is surrounded by busy green. In the midst of the green, the little flower looks peaceful yet vibrant. Women who have a gentle and quiet spirit in Christ are like this flower. Peaceful yet vibrant. They glow. You most likely have met such women yourself once or twice and they definitely leave a lasting impression.
Such a woman today is a rare thing. So many women are caught up in looking good on the outside, adorning themselves with cute clothes, cute shoes, an attractive hairstyle. If any of you are like me, I think daily about my appearance and I spend a fair amount of energy trying to look my best. There is nothing wrong with looking our best. In fact, it is a good thing to keep ourselves fit and healthy and dress nicely. But how much time do I spend on cultivating my inner beauty in comparison? Honestly, at this time in my life I have to say the time I spend in sweet communion with my Lord allowing Him to cultivate beauty inside of me is way less than that which I spend on my outward beauty.
What does it mean to be gentle and quiet of spirit?
Here are some thoughts that come to me about the meaning of gentleness and quietness:
*Gentle - makes me think of a soft touch, smile, or word given at the appropriate time.
*Quiet – makes me think of someone whose nature is sweet, humble, peaceful, thoughtful, and content with her life and lot.
What characteristics are NOT of a gentle and quiet spirit? This might be helpful for us to know what NOT to be like.
What comes to mind for the opposite of gentle:
*rough, harsh, rude, selfish, manipulative, uncaring.
What comes to mind for the opposite of quiet:
*loud, obnoxious, boisterous, prideful, rash, selfish, foolish, showy, dramatic.
A woman that is in possession of a gentle and quiet heart is not obsessed with possessions, clothing, hair, makeup, or fashion. Rather, she is someone who has a gentle and quiet spirit, is wise in the things of God and about life, and who has restraint and self-control over herself. She is kind to others, content, and does not complain. She spends quality time daily with her heavenly lover.
What are some other passages of the Bible that speak of gentleness and/or quietness?
Gentle/gentleness:
Proverbs 15:1 ~ the power of gentle words. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Matthew 11:29 ~ Jesus describes Himself as gentle and humble in heart. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
1 Corinthians 4:21 ~ Jesus is speaking. “What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?”
Ephesians 4:2 ~ we are to treat each other with gentleness in humility and with patience and love. “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.”
1 Thessalonians 2:7 ~ describes gentleness by comparing it to the way a mother cares for her little children. “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”
1 Timothy 3:3 ~ gentle, peaceable (requirement for church authorities) and also talks of a simple, content kind of life that is not caught up in wealth. “Not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.”
Galatians 5:22-23 ~ gentleness is part of the Fruit of the Spirit. I love this verse and, if I remember correctly, it was my grandpa’s favorite verse. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Philippians 4:4-6 ~ this verse speaks of the way that our gentle spirit should be evident to all who come in contact with us. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Colossians 3:12 ~ instead of clothing ourselves with beautiful things, God desires that we cloth ourselves with the following qualities. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
1 Timothy 6:11 ~ we are to chase after the characteristic of gentleness. “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”
1 Peter 3:15 ~ We are to be prepared to share our Christ knowledgeably but with gentleness and reverence (or respect) for those we are sharing with. “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
Quiet/quietness:
Isaiah 30:15 ~ there is a certain deep strength in quietness. “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.’ But you were not willing.”
Isaiah 32:17 ~ peace, quietness, and confidence are the work and service of righteousness. “And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.”
1 Timothy 2:11 ~ a woman of the Lord is specifically commanded to pursue the quality and practice of quietness. “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.”
Job 6:24 ~ like Job, we are called to have a teachable and humble heart and be able to admit when we are wrong. “Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred.”
Proverbs 17:1 ~ even a modest-means home is to be desired far a home full of arguing and discord if it is characterized by tranquility and quietness. “Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.”
Ecclesiastes 9:17 ~ quiet wisdom is something to seek and value. “The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.”
Amos 5:13 ~ the wise woman know when to remain quiet. “Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11 ~ love this verse! This is to be our aim our pursuit! "…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 ~ godliness, dignity, tranquility and quiet are to be sought. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
Now, lest we hope that this state of being is easy to achieve, I at least need reminded that a gentle and quiet spirit does not just happen. We cannot just choose to have it one day and then have it from then on. The gentle and quiet spirit that God desires for us as women (I Peter 3:3-4) is a direct result of the state of our hearts.
God has to do His work in transforming our hearts to be more like Him and we must allow this, seek this, and actively allow Him to cultivate this. If our heart is right, a beautiful, womanly character will naturally result.
A deep faith in God and in His word given to us in the Bible as well as prayer and having a teachable and humble heart is hugely vital in this process and is fundamental to a gentle and quiet character. We are modeling our lives after Jesus and therefore radiating/glowing Him to those around us!
The pursuit of a gentle and quiet spirit is part of our high calling as women of God and brings great pleasure to God in its beauty. It is an attitude of humility, respect and peacefulness. It requires and models great strength to live this kind of life.
I seek to live with purity and holiness before my God and doing that means that I am actively seeking to allow Him to cultivate a heart at peace, a gentle and quiet spirit within me. There is a tremendous strength in such a character and it is highly valued, precious even, to God. This is the essence of a womanly heart that is of the rarest and most precious beauty.
Any thoughts on a gentle and quiet heart anyone?
